OPEI cuts the ribbon on new HQ

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), on May 7, hosted nearly 100 OPEI members, dignitaries and friends for the official opening of its new headquarters at 1605 King Street on the north end of historic downtown Alexandria, Va.

The new location is ideal for OPEI’s advocacy mission. It is 20 minutes from Capitol Hill, and two blocks from a Metro station, with three hotels only steps away. OPEI President and CEO Kris Kiser said the move was necessary to modernize office infrastructure and provide meeting space for members. “Whether it is regulatory issues, standards, education, or the GIE+EXPO trade show, our members are very engaged and we wanted somewhere they could gather to do their work,” said Kiser.

Kiser told OPE magazine that OPEI, in a joint venture with Litton Entertainment and Hearst Television, is sponsoring a new TV show that will debut this October 6 on the CW Network. “We have already reached 68 million kids since our TurfMutt program began and we hope this show will expand that visibility,” Kiser said. The TurfMutt initiative began in 2009 with the goal of informing consumers about lawns, landscapes and other green spaces, and now partners with Scholastic Education, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and children’s media.

When asked about the current administration’s policies on taxes, tariffs, and work visa program, Kiser said, “Our members are planning three years out, and that can be difficult when there is so much uncertainty in Washington.”